Kornacki: Porter, Rare Winner of Both Hobey, Stanley
8/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Aug. 15, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Pittsburgh Penguins center Kevin Porter (2005-08) used the ultimate breakfast bowl for his Cinnamon Toast Crunch, eating out of the Stanley Cup at his home in downtown Plymouth. Then he hauled the Cup to a white limousine, and Hockey Hall of Fame representatives Mike Bolt and Bill Wellman drove him a few blocks to Kellogg Park for his neighbors to experience Stanley.
The next stop was Yost Ice Arena, where Porter starred for the University of Michigan. Matt Trevor, director of operations for the hockey program, unlocked the Hobey Baker Award trophy case near the entrance upon Porter's arrival. Porter won the Hobey as college hockey's top player in 2008.
Porter tilted the Stanley Cup at a 45-degree angle and smiled while holding it above the Hobey Baker Award statue for a photo Sunday afternoon (Aug. 14). It was a moment of pure history where college and pro hockey excellence are concerned.
Only two players have won both awards. Bolt and Wellman confirmed that only Chris Drury (Boston University 1998, Colorado Avalanche 2001) and Porter have been able to claim both Stanley and Hobey, which has been awarded 36 times.
"That is pretty cool," Porter said of the rare accomplishment. "That is really cool. I didn't know that. Only two guys have done that, and so that's pretty special. It's pretty special to win either of them, let alone both of them."
Canadian governor general Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, aka Lord Stanley of Preston, donated the silver Cup in 1892, and the NHL took possession of it in 1910. Only NHL teams have competed for the Cup since 1926, and Carl Hagelin (2008-11) and Porter, members of the 2007-08 Michigan team that reached the Frozen Four, became the ninth and 10th Wolverines to win it.
John Sherf was first, winning it in 1936 and 1937 with the Detroit Red Wings. Current Michigan coach Gordon "Red" Berenson was next, winning it in 1965 with the Montreal Canadiens.
Berenson posed with Porter and the Cup at center ice on a hot, muggy afternoon. Later, in the locker room, Berenson watched as his grandchildren were photographed with it.
"There's something magical about the Stanley Cup," said Berenson. "Just think of all the places it's been."
NHL players have hoisted the 35-pound Cup while skating around the ice after winning championships for nearly a century, and Porter got his uniform and skates on to do so after the Penguins took game six of the NHL Finals from the San Jose Sharks. Porter's season ended with an injury in March, but he played the 41 games required of players to qualify for name engraving on the Stanley Cup.
"I broke my ankle," said Porter, 30, "but it was pretty special getting out there and being able to celebrate with everyone. That hour we spent on the ice together was awesome."
Porter said the names of this year's Penguins have yet to be engraved on the Cup, but the name "GORDON BERENSON" is clearly visible along with the other 1964-65 Montreal Canadiens, and captain Jean Beliveau, one of the league's greatest players, is listed at the beginning of that same line.
What went through Porter's mind as he stood at Yost with Berenson and the Cup?
"That was pretty cool," said Porter. "He obviously had a great career in the NHL and a big impact on me playing here. To bring the Stanley Cup here and have a picture taken of it with him was pretty special."
Porter recalled how Berenson trusted him:
"In between my junior and senior years, when he announced that I was going to be the captain as a senior, that was a pretty special moment. He did it at the banquet with family and friends there. He announced it right there, and I didn't even know it was coming before that.
"We had a short meeting after that, and Red said, 'This is going to be your year. We need you take control of this team.' So, that was a special moment."
Michigan won everything except the national championship in Porter's senior season. It won the CCHA regular-season and tournament championships, going 33-5-4, and lost, 5-4 in overtime, to Notre Dame in the Frozen Four semifinal. Porter scored a career-high four goals in the NCAA East Regional opener to beat Niagara, 5-1, and he finished with 33 goals and 63 points.
"It was a challenge for him with that team," said Berenson. "We knew we'd have a pretty good team, but we had about 10 freshmen. We had (Aaron) Palushaj, (Max) Pacioretty, (Matt) Rust, (Louie) Caporusso and Hagelin as freshmen. Porter and (Chad) Kolarik really impacted our team and led our team the right way. They embraced the young players.
"Porter was a classic high-end player from Detroit. We knew we were getting a good player, but I don't know that anyone envisioned that he would be a Hobey Baker winner. But he adapted really well to our team and style and playing with good players. From day one, he was an impact player. He also did it right and graduated, and now he has his name on the Stanley Cup."
Hagelin, a freshman from Sweden when Porter was a senior, was acquired by Pittsburgh from the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 15. He was the left wing on the HBK Line with center Mike Bonino and right wing Phil Kessel that sparked the Penguins in the playoffs.
"Carl's going to have a good day with the Cup in Sweden," said Porter.
Porter later posed with the Cup and former and current Wolverine players Kyle Connor, Dexter Dancs, Brendan Warren and Joe Cecconi along the boards at Yost. Connor, the Hobey Baker runner-up as a freshman, went pro and will play for the Winnipeg Jets.
Then it was onto the Jolly Pumpkin in downtown Ann Arbor for a fundraiser to benefit Athletes Connected, which supports and educates Wolverine student-athletes on depression and mental health. Donations were made to pose for photos with Porter and the Cup and autographs.
"Mental health issues are a big part of my family and close to me," said Porter. "So, that was something I wanted to support to help out U-M athletes. I researched a few charities, all very deserving, but the one I selected was closest to me."
The event raised about $2,500 for Athletes Connected, according to Barb Hansen, a clinical social worker who counsels Michigan student-athletes.
"It was a great surprise and really appreciated," said Hansen. "Mental health resonates with Kevin, and it was an exciting day. Watching the people in the line smiling all day was wonderful."
Porter re-signed with Pittsburgh in June and has played seven NHL seasons. His most productive season was 2010-11, when he scored 14 goals and had 25 points for the Colorado Avalanche.
Steve Kampfer (2011 Boston Bruins) was the last Wolverine to bring Stanley to Yost, and other Wolverines to win it include Pat Hughes (1979 Montreal, 1984 and 1985 Edmonton), Mike Knuble (1997 and 1998 Detroit), Aaron Ward (1997 and 1998 Detroit and 2006 Carolina), Blake Sloan (1999 Dallas) and John Madden (2000 and 2003 New Jersey and 2010 Chicago).
Several of them have brought Stanley to Yost to share the experience.
"I like the fact that these kids remember Michigan and that it's like a big family," said Berenson.
What was it like for Berenson, Michigan's coach since 1984, to see his name on perhaps the most well-known trophy in sports along with seven players he has coached?
"It's pretty neat," he said, smiling. "I remember a long time ago that I had to argue with parents, coaches and scouts about why kids should go to college and get an education and play hockey. I knew I was right. I did it myself, and Tony Esposito, Ken Dryden and Keith Magnuson came after me (from colleges to NHL stardom).
"So, it's nice that it's no longer unusual. You go to Michigan, then you go to the NHL, and if you are lucky and good, you are going to end up with your name on the Cup."
